Author Archive

Throwing Heat Week 5

by
May 17, 2022

The season has begun and we are back with Throwing Heat! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this is a weekly article that focuses on pitchers who are pitching well. When we are further into the season it will be based on a pitcher’s previous three starts but for now, it will just be their most recent starts.

The beauty of this article is how it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article. I will also tell you if the hot streak is legit or if it appears to be a facade. I hope you enjoy it!

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Throwing Heat Week 3

by
April 25, 2022

The season has begun and we are back with Throwing Heat! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this is a weekly article that focuses on pitchers who are pitching well. When we are further into the season it will be based on a pitcher’s previous three starts but for now, it will just be their most recent starts.

The beauty of this article is how it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article. I will also tell you if the hot streak is legit or if it appears to be a facade. I hope you enjoy it!

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Throwing Heat Week Two

by
April 19, 2022

The season has begun and we are back with Throwing Heat! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this is a weekly article that focuses on pitchers who are pitching well. When we are further into the season it will be based on a pitcher’s previous three starts but for now, it will just be their most recent starts.

The beauty of this article is how it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article. I will also tell you if the hot streak is legit or if it appears to be a facade. I hope you enjoy it!

Andrew Heaney, LAD

Last two starts: 10.1 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, and a 13.94 K/9

To dive a little deeper into these first two starts Heaney has a 1.16 FIP, 32.5 K-BB%, and a 20.5 SwStr%. Small samples are fun! Heaney was touted by many this offseason for his underlying potential. Something many have thought for years now. So is it finally coming to fruition?

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Throwing Heat Week 1

by
April 13, 2022

The season has begun and we are back with Throwing Heat! For those who didn’t read these articles last season, this is a weekly article that focuses on pitchers who are pitching well. When we are further into the season it will be based on a pitcher’s previous three starts but for now, it will just be their most recent starts.

The beauty of this article is how it highlights all types of pitchers from the best in the league to pitchers who are barely rostered. If someone is on a hot streak they will be in this article, we will then break down their recent starts and let you know if it is real or a facade.

Tylor Megill, NYM

Last two starts: 10.1 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and a 30.6 K%

Tylor Megill, you are a bad bad man! In his first two starts of the season, Megill has looked phenomenal as he cruised through both the Phillies and the Nationals’ offense. He has yet to surrender a walk, has a 30.6 K%, and a 16.0 SwStr%.

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Michael Simione’s Bold Predictions

by
April 4, 2022

1) Miguel Sano is a top-ten first baseman.

I know it’s a story as old as time but did you know Miguel Sano dropped 25 pounds in the offseason? While this might not matter to most, I don’t blame you, I’ll tell you why it does matter.

Anyone who has watched Sano play can tell something has always been off with him. By that I mean he always seemed to just…not care. Sounds weird, I know, but when I have talked to others including some Twins fans they all seem to agree.

Coming into camp in the best shape of his life looks like an attitude shift.

Getting into the numbers it is no surprise Miguel Sano hits the ball hard. Very hard. He is top five in virtually every exit velocity metric there is for the first base position. 30 home runs will be there and there is no dispute about it.

In order for him to take a step forward the average needs to come up. A .233 average with a .215 xBA just won’t cut it. The good thing is Sano has hit over .245 three times in his career though and his BABIP was below his career average last season leaving some room for improvement.

Compared to 2020 he improved in K% (lowest of career), SwStr% (lowest since 2018), and Z-Contact% (highest since 2018). Now, none of his numbers are great but I am also not saying he will hit .280.

If a healthy Sano who actually cares can find some luck and hit .250 he takes a big jump in value. If this happened, what would be the difference between him and Josh Bell who is going as a top ten first baseman?

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Michael Simione’s Outfield Rankings

by
March 29, 2022
Michael Simione’s Outfield Rankings
Rank Player Team Position(s) ADP Notes
1 Juan Soto WAS OF 5.43 In the second half, he hit .348 with a 199 wRC+ and 1.164 OPS. Insanity.
2 Bryce Harper PHI OF 9.75 Bryce Harper now has three consecutive seasons (ignoring the short season) with at least 34 home runs and 13 stolen bases.
3 Kyle Tucker HOU OF 11.32 Kyle Tucker had a fantastic season in 2021 propelling him into a first-round pick. The Astros don’t like to run so I don’t agree with the projections thinking he steals more than 15 bags.
4 Mookie Betts LAD OF 16.46 Mookie is still great but with the decline in exit velocity and with just three stolen bases in the second half he might not be as safe as we think.
5 Luis Robert CWS OF 17.11 If we see 600 plate appearances we could see Robert have a 25 HR 15 SB type of season with a solid average. Could easily be a first round pick next year.
6 Mike Trout LAA OF 15.64 We know the story, arguably the best hitter in baseball but he continues to struggle to stay healthy.
7 Yordan Alvarez HOU OF 30.57 He finished 2021 with a 138 wRC+, .346 OBP, 15.9 Barrel%, and .369 wOBA – such a good pure hitter.
8 Whit Merrifield KC 2B, OF 31.89 Merrifield is the king of PA’s. In the past three seasons no one has walked up to the plate more than Merrifield. The power might be dwindling but the speed still holds true.
9 Teoscar Hernandez TOR OF 32.75 A power-plus speed option who is in the middle of the best offense in the league. Yes please.
10 Cedric Mullins BAL OF 36.46 Our great Justin Mason predicted his 2021 breakout. All hail Justin!
11 Starling Marte NYM OF 25.21 Marte is behind due to a sore oblique usually this saps power but with Marte, you aren’t taking him for his power. If you need a hitter with average plus speed Marte is your guy.
12 Aaron Judge NYY OF 40.89 Judge gives you everything plus a little bit of speed. He is a massive power source with a 119.0 maxEV and 17.6 Barrel%.
13 Byron Buxton MIN OF 51.54 PLEASE STAY HEALTHY. Buxton is a league winner if he can play for the entire season but it’s a big if.
14 Tyler O’Neill STL OF 54.11 Tyler has some serious speed and some serious power but the high 31.3 K% is worrisome. I think we tend to overplay strikeouts since the entire league essentially does it. I wouldn’t shy away from him.
15 Ronald Acuna Jr. ATL OF 9.5 Acuna won’t see the field until “maybe” May. Yea the maybe is scary. Even if he is back in May at the DH there is no way he is stealing bases.
16 Kris Bryant COL 3B, OF 105.54 His 25 home runs and 10 steals last season made him valuable. We saw a nice step forward from 2020 and Bryant should perform just fine in 2022 in Coors.
17 Randy Arozarena TB OF 60.96 Arozarena didn’t produce what most had hoped for. He is still a solid 20/20 option in a good offense.
18 Nick Castellanos PHI OF 71.39 He is a lock to be a four-category contributor and his 140 wRC+ from last season is a good representation of his skill set.
19 Eloy Jimenez CWS OF 72.93 Think Teoscar Hernandez without the steals. Good power bat in a great lineup who could see a ton of runs and RBIs. In 2020 we saw a .373 wOBA and .263 ISO, I would expect more of the same.
20 George Springer TOR OF 63.54 It was a messy season for Springer due to injuries but his plate discipline stuck and he continued to hit the ball hard.
21 Tommy Edman STL 2B, OF 83.21 Edman is the perfect hitter if you need speed at this point in the draft. There is no power here but it also isn’t non existent either.
22 Ketel Marte ARZ 2B, OF 84.07 If he could just stay healthy I fully believe Marte can be a top-five second baseman. He had a 139 wRC+ last season and a .385 wOBA, both fantastic numbers. Please stay healthy.
23 J.D. Martinez BOS OF 97.82 J.D. Martinez just keeps doing J.D. Martinez things. He contributes in every category besides speed and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
24 Bryan Reynolds PIT OF 98.82 Last season Reynolds was top 10 in the league in wRC+, wOBA, and OPS.
25 Giancarlo Stanton NYY OF 108.39 Stanton was able to stay healthy for the first time since 2018 and he didn’t disapoint hitting .273 with 35 home runs. Expect more of the same this season.
26 Jesse Winker SEA OF 114.43 Jesse Winker was traded to Seattle and moves from a hitter-friendly ballpark to a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Expect him to take a slight hit in the power department.
27 Mitch Haniger SEA OF 119.43 Haniger finished 2021 with 39 home runs, a .232 ISO, and a 12.6 Barrel%. The power is legit.
28 Ryan Mountcastle BAL 1B, OF 122.36 The fence being moved out will hurt his power production but he still gives you a decent average as well as a little bit of speed.
29 Kyle Schwarber PHI OF 130.29 Kyle Schwarber joins a lineup where he could be in position for a ton of runs and rbi. Projections peg him for 35 home runs and over 160 R+RBI, I think he can beat those numbers.
30 Myles Straw CLE OF 118.57 Myles Straw is another speed play where if you are lacking it at this point of the draft he should be your target. The Guardians will play him everyday and the team loves to run.
31 Cody Bellinger LAD OF 100.07 Bellinger is a tough cookie to crack. After an MVP season he decided to try and change his swing which is very odd. He then was hit with injuries and Bellinger has been pretty terrible the last two seasons. Will he return to MVP Bellinger, or is he just not that good?
32 Christian Yelich MLW OF 100.5 I’m not sure we ever see Yelich hit over 30 home runs again, but I think 20 home runs with double-digit steals and a secent average is possible.
33 Chris Taylor LAD 2B, SS, OF 137.89 Chris Taylor was a pleasant surprise last season as he finished 2021 with 20 home runs, 92 rubs, and 13 stolen bases. You can expect more of the same in 2022.
34 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. TOR OF 144.11 Gurriel’s expected stats all show his 2021 was legit and while a hitter having 20 home runs while hitting .276 is boring it’s still useful.
35 Austin Meadows TB OF 158.14 It looks like Meadows has basically stopped running and has essentially become a power bat.
36 Alex Verdugo BOS OF 159.75 With an xwOBA of .342 and an xSLG of .446 we could see a better average from Verdugo next season. Interestingly enough he has raised his barrel rate the last three seasons.
37 Avisail Garcia MIA OF 167.04 Avisail seems grossly undervalued. He will see a ton of playing time, he gives you power, he gives you speed, and he has a decent batting average.
38 Jarred Kelenic SEA OF 137.43 After a tough start to his career, Kelenic in the final month hit .248 with a 135 wRC+, seven home runs, and three stolen bases.
39 Trent Grisham SD OF 137.5 Grisham has great contact skills but the average wRC+ and ISO make me think he is, well, just average.
40 Hunter Renfroe MLW OF 168.5 Renfroe has now hit over 30 home runs in the last two full seasons, but last season he was able to raise his average. With an xBA matching his BA it looks like the average increase was legit.
41 Eddie Rosario ATL OF 176.61 Rosario signing with the Braves could not have been more perfect for him. Going back to the place where he was able to play well should do wonders. A 20/10 season is possible.
42 Andrew Benintendi KC OF 178.29 Benintendi is a bit undervalued. The .276 average is helpful, the 17 home runs is helpful, and the 8 steals is helpful. He doesn’t excel in any one specific category but he is “good” in all of them.
43 Dylan Carlson STL OF 180.79 Dylan Carlson in the second half: 11 home runs, .227 ISO, 127 wRC+, and .357 wOBA.
44 Robbie Grossman DET OF 182.71 Grossman gave you a ton of production in 2021 and I would expect the same in 2022 with a little less power (7.6 Barrel%).
45 Marcell Ozuna ATL OF 192.29 Ozuna should be slotted into the middle of the Braves lineup and his upside is intriguing.
46 Enrique Hernandez BOS 2B, OF 218.14 I love me some Enrique Hernandez because he leads off (his manager loves him), will give you 80 runs, and should give you over 20 home runs.
47 Akil Baddoo DET OF 153.29 Baddoo is a true power/speed threat but he has to start hitting LHP better.
48 Ian Happ CHC OF 193.46 Happ had a really good second half in 2021, but he has done that before. Can he put it all together?
49 Seiya Suzuki CHC OF 196.43 Suzuki should play every day usually it takes a bit of time for overseas players to adjust but I could see 20 home runs with about five steals from him.
50 Michael Conforto – OF 201.43 Conforto has had some highs as well as some lows in his career. The power numbers dipped last year as he looked completely lost at the plate. It’s hard to ignore his 2017-2019 seasons though, where he for 88 home runs.
51 Jorge Soler – OF 209.82 Soler is a solid power source, if he lands in a friendly ballpark we could see close to 35 home runs.
52 Adolis Garcia TEX OF 183.43 Adolis was fantastic in the first half of the season. The second half was a different story as he posted a 69 wRC+, 31.8 K%, and a .626 OPS.
53 Jesus Sanchez MIA OF 222.5 Sanchez exemplified true power with his 113.9 maxEV and 12.7 Barrel%. A ton of upside here.
54 Joey Gallo NYY OF 192.5 Gallo is extremely tough to build around with his horrendous average. Yes, the power is for real but unless he brings his average to the .220 range he will only hinder your team.
55 AJ Pollock LAD OF 212.36 We all know the story, if Pollock can stay healthy he is great. But that never happens.
56 Harrison Bader STL OF 214.96 Bader is slotted to be a start for the Cardinals and should see over 500 PAs. He has 20/10 potential and wont hurt you with average.
57 Josh Rojas ARZ 2B, SS, OF 222.57 Rojas is a popular name for draft and holds due to his playing time path and his multi-eligibilty. He is a decent late speed option otherwise.
58 Ramon Laureano OAK OF 223.68 The suspension hurts his value but if you can stomach keeping him on the bench then go for it.
59 Adam Duvall ATL OF 232.82 Duvall is a solid power bat but the poor batting average and horrendous OBP could hold him back.
60 Jo Adell LAA OF 234.71 Maybe Adell is one of those prospects we forget about who suddenly breaks out?
61 Charlie Blackmon COL OF 238.79 The speed has been gone for a while now but he should still have some power with a good average while also being solid in R+RBI.
62 Lane Thomas WAS OF 251.36 Lane Thomas should see plenty of PA for Washington the OBP is good enough to keep him in the lineup. 10 homers and 10 steals seem plausible.
63 Austin Hays BAL OF 243.39 Hays didn’t see a breakout but he did make improvements by lowering his ground ball rate and doubling his Barrel rate.
64 Raimel Tapia COL OF 248.39 There is zero power here but if you need speed and average Tapia is your guy.
65 Mark Canha NYM OF 275.64 Canha gives you a nice blend by contirbuting in every category but average.
66 Max Kepler MIN OF 283.04 Kepler saw a dip in power, yet he had the highest Barrel% of his career. The problem could be that he pulled the ball less, I think we could see a bounceback from him.
67 Mike Yastrzemski SF OF 289.64 Yastrzemski hit a disappointing .224 but his plate discipline didn’t really take a hit. With a 254 BABIP he may have just been unlucky. If he can hit for a high average with 20 home runs again he could be useful.
68 Connor Joe COL OF 312.32 Whether Joe sees a lot of playing time or not is hard to tell because it’s the Rockies and you never know with them. He was impressive in his 200 PA’s so I hope we get to see a lot of him.
69 Fernando Tatis Jr. SD SS, OF 1.82 Crushing news that Tatis fractured his wrist and could miss a few months.
70 Tommy Pham – OF 256.75 The 34-year-old still isn’t signed but if/when he does sign with someone he could give you 15 home runs and 10 bags.
71 Andrew Vaughn CWS OF 257.89 Vaughn had a below-average OPS but his Barrel rate and maxEV both show the type of power potential he has. It’s a matter of his manager giving him a shot.
72 Garrett Hampson COL 2B, OF 260.32 Hampson will give you 10/10 production but the average will drag you down.
73 Michael Brantley HOU OF 264.32 Brantley is really just an average play at this point, can he maybe get you 20 home runs? Perhaps but I wouldn’t bet on it.
74 Wil Myers SD OF 265.64 If you need PA’s Wil Myers is your man at this point. Some projections have him penicled in for 20 home runs and 10 steals which at this point, is pretty dang good.
75 Anthony Santander BAL OF 266.96 The wall moving in will hurt Santander since he is a power bat. Injuries hurt his power as we saw a dip in his metrics compared to 2020. He is only 27 so a bounceback could happen.
76 Riley Greene DET OF 294 Some think we see Riley Greene in the lineup opening day. Greene his .308 in AAA last year with a 153 wRC+ (185 PAs).
77 Julio Rodriguez SEA OF 284.14 Julio bounced up to AA last season and in 206 PAs he hit .362 with a 173 wRC+. With a log jam in Seattle it’s tough to tell when we will see him but some think it will be sooner than later.
78 Brandon Nimmo NYM OF 295.86 Nimmo is a bit injury prone but will lead off for the Mets and has had an OBP over .400 for the last two seasons. I can see him sprinting to first on a ball four call as I type this.
79 Manuel Margot TB OF 318.25 Margot had a decent season with the Rays last year, he just doesn’t hit the ball hard (career 87 wRC+).
80 Rafael Ortega CHC OF 321.71 Ortega looks like he will lead off for the Cubs offense, they will struggle to produce runs which makes me think they will run a lot. Ortega could definitely see 15 stolen bases with a middling average and double digit home runs.
81 Kyle Lewis SEA OF 303.68 Lewis will start the year on the IL but when he is back he could give you a little bit of power and speed. Don’t forget in 2020 he had a 127 wRC+ and .801 OPS.
82 LaMonte Wade Jr. SF 1B, OF 303.75 The Giants love to platoon making Wade a tough buy. He should give you 15 home runs and at least five steals, the upside makes him appealing.
83 Alex Kirilloff MIN 1B, OF 180.5 Projections like Kiriloff and if he can put up 18 home runs, four steals, and a 2.70 average like they are calling for, that makes him a really solid bench piece.
84 Tyler Naquin CIN OF 328.68 The Reds have traded everyone so Naquin should see over 500 PAs as long as he is healthy. He is terrible against LHP so make sure you sit him against them.
85 Andrew McCutchen MIL OF 342.89 McCutchen landed in a good spot with the Brewers and he had the highest barrel rate of his career last season.
86 Luis Arraez MIN 2B, 3B, OF 301.57 Think Madrigal but without the speed.
87 Eric Haase DET C, OF 317.96 Haase could play in the OF at times giving him plenty of playing opportunity. As long as he performs as good as last season he is a great option.
88 Jeff McNeil NYM 2B, OF 327.86 It has been reported that McNeil will be the starting second baseman for the Mets. He saw a downtrend in wRC+ but continued to make a lot of contact. He should provide average but 2019 seems to be his ceiling.
89 Vidal Brujan TB OF 329.82 Brujan is an intriguing prospect but I wonder if he the Rays sending him back down last season and not always starting him means they don’t full believe in him.
90 Hunter Dozier KC 3B, OF 349.18 Dozier had a nice second half turnaround by improving his plate discipline and if it sticks he could be a solid late round flier.
91 Brandon Marsh LAA OF 334.36 Marsh didn’t have the best start to his major league career last season but he has a little bit of pop and some speed with prospect pedigree.
92 Yoshi Tsutsugo PIT 1B, OF 334.57 Yoshi should see a lot of PA’s in Pittsburgh and maybe we start to see some of his power in 2022.
93 Lorenzo Cain MLW OF 339.29 Lorenzo Cain doesn’t run as much but will still give you double-digit bases.
94 Josh Lowe TB OF 350.96 Lowe should be up at some point, he hit .291 in AAA with a 142 wRC+.
95 Randal Grichuk TOR OF 357.18 Grichuk at this point is someone you add for power upside.
96 Willie Calhoun TEX OF 386.61 Calhoun currently slots in as leadoff according to Roster Resource, I’m not sure if that sticks but it would be a nice bump in value for him.
97 Dominic Smith NYM OF 369.04 It was announced that Smith played injured last season but that doesn’t fix the log jam in front of him in NY.
98 Darin Ruf 러프 SF 1B, OF 374.68 Ruf is one of the best platoon bats in the bigs. A terrific matchup play in daily leagues.
99 Victor Robles WAS OF 379.96 Will he finally break out and perform?
100 Clint Frazier CHC OF 397.39 Will he finally break out and perform? Finding playing time could be an issue.

Michael Simione’s Third Base Rankings

by
March 15, 2022
Michael Simione’s Third Base Rankings
Rank Player Team Position(s) ADP Notes
1 Jose Ramirez CLE 3B 3.67 Ramirez is going top three in drafts and he certainly deserves it. He is a lock for 20/20 and has 30/30 upside. Can’t beat that at a shallow position.
2 Rafael Devers BOS 3B 14.6 Devers is a stud in every category possible except for steals but he does give you a handful. At just age 25, we haven’t even seen him at his best yet.
3 Manny Machado SD 3B 23.8 A power bat who puts up double-digit steals and a ton of plate appearances, yes please.
4 Austin Riley ATL 3B 55.07 The Riley breakout finally happened and I was lucky enough to have a few shares. The power and average should stick, he just won’t give you any speed.
5 Nolan Arenado STL 3B 73.87 Well, Arenado did what we all thought he would do outside of Coors. Still hit for power but his average took a hit.
6 Kris Bryant N/A 3B, OF 103.07 His 25 home runs and 10 steals last season made him valuable. We saw a nice step forward from 2020 and Bryant should perform just fine in 2022.
7 Alex Bregman HOU 3B 89.6 Bregman has fallen in drafts due to his injuries and poor performance in 2021. Let’s not forget though, between 2018 and 2019 he had 72 home runs with over 440 R+RBI while hitting for .291.
8 Anthony Rendon LAA 3B 112.8 A solid batting average floor with 20 home run potential but the injuries are worrisome. The latest was that he is hoping to be ready for the start of the season.
9 Adalberto Mondesi KC 3B 54.87 A high injury risk player with an insane amount of talent on the bases. If he somehow stays healthy he could be a league winner. That’s a huge if though.
10 DJ LeMahieu NYY 1B, 2B, 3B 118.27 After the season we found out that LeMahieu played the entire season injured. A bounceback is likely.
11 Justin Turner LAD 3B 160.33 When Turner is on the field the dude can hit. In his last five seasons, he is averaging a whopping 139 wRC+.
12 Ke’Bryan Hayes PIT 3B 139.67 Hayes has tantalizing speed and 15/15 potential. Let’s see what the young hitter can do if he can stay healthy.
13 Luis Urias MLW 2B, 3B, SS 173.4 I am a big Luis Urias fan and I think his breakout could continue. In the second half, he hit for a 123 wRC+, .850 OPS, and .217 ISO
14 Josh Donaldson NYY 3B 207.07 I have touted Josh Donaldson all off-season. As you CI or UT you can’t go wrong because Donaldson was top five in EV/FB and MaxEV amongst all third basemen last season.
15 Yoan Moncada CWS 3B 167.47 It’s now or never buddy.
16 Ryan McMahon COL 2B, 3B 172.33 McMahon should have 20 home run power once again and finds himself in the middle of that Rockies lineup. The problem is the Coors effect and he’s tough to start on the road.
17 Eugenio Suarez CIN 3B, SS 202.93 I’m hoping the addition of the DH means Suarez won’t be on the field anymore. It would only benefit him and every single Reds pitcher.
18 Eduardo Escobar NYM 2B, 3B 209.2 The Mets are a bit crowded but I think he will find plenty of playing time. I don’t think we see 28 home runs again but 25 is certainly possible.
19 Jeimer Candelario DET 3B 265.93 The candyman should see over 600 PAs again. There seems to be more power potential there, in the second half he hit 11 home runs with a 139 wRC+ and .242 ISO.
20 Matt Chapman OAK 3B 204.2 Chapman has officially become an empty power source. He no longer hits for average and is essentially Joey Gallo. Trying to make up for his poor batting average will only hurt you.
21 Gio Urshela MIN 3B, SS 320 He took a major step back in terms of offensive production with his wRC+ dipping below 100. Maybe the new scenery can help him out but for now, he is nothing more than a solid backup in deeper leagues.
22 Jonathan Villar N/A 3B, SS 265.67 Villar is an accumulator who can get you stolen bases, we have to see where he signs though.
23 Abraham Toro SEA 2B, 3B 278.47 15 home runs and five stolen bases seem plausible here.
24 Alec Bohm PHI 3B 298.4 Alec Bohm was hit with a sophomore slump and he should be able to bounce back. He has the prospect pedigree and is worth taking a shot on this late in drafts.
25 Cavan Biggio TOR 3B 307.73 No power potential here at all, there never was, but hitting for 15 home runs and 15 steals is always possible.
26 Luis Arraez MIN 2B, 3B, OF 335.67 Think Madrigal but without the speed.
27 Patrick Wisdom CHC 3B 338.6 Hard to invest in someone who lead the league in K%.
28 Joey Wendle MIA 3B, SS 352.4 Joey Wendle should see consistent playing time and in my opinion, he is basically a twin of Rojas.
29 Mike Moustakas CIN 3B 348.27 Whether or not his injury has changed his power output for the rest of his career, we don’t know. But we will find out soon.
30 Hunter Dozier KC 3B, OF 356.67 Dozier had a nice second-half turnaround by improving his plate discipline and if it sticks he could be a solid late-round flier.
31 Yandy Diaz TB 1B, 3B 355.6 Diaz will continue to do what he does, hit the ball hard without giving you home runs.
32 Jose Miranda MIN 3B 356.73 Miranda mashed in AA and AAA last season putting up a wRC+ over 155 in both. We could see a call-up.
33 Evan Longoria SF 3B 357.13 Can the old man stay healthy?
34 Santiago Espinal TOR 3B 358.6 It’s hard to say how much time Espinal could see on the field and that limits his upside.
35 Wilmer Flores SF 1B, 2B, 3B 359.07 The Giants like to platoon him but he should still see a bunch of plate appearances.
36 Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 SD 2B, 3B, SS 342.8 Kim will once again battle to see PAs but the 10/10 potential makes him a decent bench bat.
37 Tyler Wade LAA 3B, SS, OF 359.6 As of right now, the speedster should be starting for the Angels and while it is empty speed you could be getting 20 steals from him.
38 J.D. Davis NYM 3B 360 Davis was a mess last year with injuries and the Mets not wanting to play him with his poor defense. Hopefully, he gets traded.
39 Rougned Odor BAL 2B, 3B 424.24 Odor will likely play every day if he performs. And if he does you could potentially get 15/10 out of him.
40 Carter Kieboom WSH 3B 451.0 It’s either Kieboom finally wakes up or it’s Maikel Franco time.

Michael Simione’s Shortstop Rankings

by
February 28, 2022

Check out Michael’s shortstops:
Read the rest of this entry »


Michael Simione’s Second Base Rankings

by
February 25, 2022
Michael Simione’s Second Base Rankings
Rank Player Team Position(s) ADP Notes
1 Trea Turner LAD 2B, SS 1.25 The clear number one in my opinion, is very consistent and will give you all five categories. Expect a ton of runs from Turner sitting on top of that Dodgers lineup all season.
2 Ozzie Albies ATL 2B 17.63 At age 25 Albies put up 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He could definitely go 30/20 again next season.
3 Whit Merrifield KC 2B, OF 32.5 Merrifield is the king of PAs. In the past three seasons, no one has walked up to the plate more than Merrifield. The power might be dwindling but the speed still holds true.
4 Marcus Semien TEX 2B, SS 41.25 After a monster season, Semien moves to a pitcher’s ballpark and into a lineup that is nowhere near the one in Toronto. He should still be good, just as good.
5 Jorge Polanco MIN 2B, SS 78.75 Those who have read my work know I am a huge Jorge Polanco and Jonathan India fan. Both can be grabbed in the middle rounds and both provide you with some pop and some speed. I really think these two should be targeted.
6 Jonathan India CIN 2B 83.63 Those who have read my work know I am a huge Jorge Polanco and Jonathan India fan. Both can be grabbed in the middle rounds and both provide you with some pop and some speed. I really think these two should be targeted.
7 Javier Baez DET 2B, SS 60.38 The highest EV/FB amongst second baseman belongs to Mr. Baez over here. Sure his plate discipline is horrendous but he keeps producing.
8 Brandon Lowe TB 2B 79.5 He produced exactly how we thought he would by giving you 39 home runs. Yet his ADP has dropped compared to last season.
9 Jose Altuve HOU 2B 85.25 The speed is virtually gone for Altuve but he still gives you four categories with a high floor average.
10 Jazz Chisholm Jr. MIA 2B, SS 69.38 There is a lot of Jazz love out there and I totally get it. I just think there could be a low floor there with his low contact rates.
11 Ketel Marte ARZ 2B, OF 87.5 If he could just stay healthy I fully believe Marte can be a top-five second baseman. He had a 139 wRC+ last season and a .385 wOBA, both fantastic numbers. Please stay healthy.
12 Tommy Edman STL 2B, OF 77.13 Edman provides you with a lot of speed and a decent average with double-digit home runs. He’s a great pick if you are thirsty for steals early on.
13 DJ LeMahieu NYY 1B, 2B, 3B 119.75 After the season we found out that LeMahieu played the entire season injured. A bounceback is likely.
14 Luis Urias MLW 2B, 3B, SS 149.63 I am a big Luis Urias fan and I think his breakout could continue. In the second half, he hit for a 123 wRC+, .850 OPS, and .217 ISO
15 Chris Taylor LAD 2B, SS, OF 133.25 Chris Taylor was a nice surprise last season as he finished 2021 with 20 home runs, 92 rubs, and 13 stolen bases. You can expect more of the same in 2022.
16 Ty France SEA 1B, 2B 151 France took some impressive strides last season. His MaxEV and EV/FB both increased by several points. He also had a 147 wRC+ in the second half while also cutting his strikeout rate by three points.
17 Jake Cronenworth SD 1B, 2B, SS 122.13 His multi-eligibility makes him an attractive option for your UT, CI, or MI position. While he doesn’t provide a ton of counting stats in one specific category he does help contribute in all five of them.
18 Enrique Hernandez BOS 2B, OF 221 I love me some Enrique Hernandez because he leads off (his manager loves him), will give you 80 runs, and should give you over 20 home runs.
19 Ryan McMahon COL 2B, 3B 164.13 McMahon should have 20 home run power once again and finds himself in the middle of that Rockies lineup. The problem is the Coors effect and he’s tough to start on the road.
20 Brendan Rodgers COL 2B, SS 175.88 Rodgers looks to fill in the two-hole and should see plenty of PAs. A solid average floor with some power potential.
21 Kolten Wong MLW 2B 176.5 Wong won’t give you a lot of one category but gives you a little bit of everything. 15 home runs and 15 steals is possible and since he looks to be in the leadoff spot he should help you get a bunch of runs.
22 Jonathan Schoop DET 1B, 2B 203 Schoop provides plenty of value since he is an accumulator who will see plenty of plate appearances on a Detroit Tigers team.
23 Max Muncy LAD 1B, 2B 165.38 Still a big injury mystery and without an update, we have to leave him here.
24 Eduardo Escobar NYM 2B, 3B 201.13 The Mets are a bit crowded but I think he will find plenty of playing time. I don’t think we see 28 home runs again but 25 is certainly possible.
25 Jean Segura PHI 2B 178 Segura is kind of like Kolten Wong where he doesn’t excel in one area but helps a little in all five categories.
26 Josh Rojas ARZ 2B, SS, OF 224.88 Rojas is a popular name for draft and holds due to his playing time path and his multi-eligibility. He is a decent late speed option otherwise.
27 Gavin Lux LAD 2B, SS 234.25 With the DH coming we will no doubt see more of Gavin Lux. It’s now or never.
28 Andres Gimenez CLE 2B, SS 236.63 After an impressive campaign with the Mets Gimenez had a disappointing in 2021 with the Guardians. He does have an intriguing skill set though.
29 Jeff McNeil NYM 2B, OF 304.75 McNeil just looked lost last season. The potential is there, between 2019 and 2020 he had a WRC+ of 141 with an OBP of .384.
30 Abraham Toro SEA 2B, 3B 254 15 home runs and five stolen bases seem plausible here.
31 Garrett Hampson COL 2B, OF 257.13 Hampson will give you 10/10 production but the average will drag you down.
32 Cesar Hernandez WAS 2B 311.5 Sold out for power last season but lost average because of it. He is interesting as he is hitting in front of Soto and Bell which could lead to a ton of runs.
33 Nick Madrigal CHC 2B 286 If you are in need of average and steals this late in the draft, Madrigal is your guy.
34 Luis Arraez MIN 2B, 3B, OF 307.13 Think Madrigal but without the speed.
35 Adam Frazier SEA 2B 334.5 Frazier had that spectacular first half to only cool off big time in the second half. He is in a crowded situation but should still see plenty of PAs.
36 David Fletcher LAA 2B, SS 337.38 Average, speed and PAs make Fletcher a decent bench bat to have.
37 Wilmer Flores SF 1B, 2B, 3B 376.63 The Giants like to platoon him but he should still see a bunch of plate appearances.
38 Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 SD 2B, 3B, SS 349.38 Kim will once again battle to see PA’s but the 10/10 potential makes him a decent bench bat.
39 Nick Solak TEX 2B 366.13 The foot-tapping you hear is me waiting for Solak to reach his potential.
40 Nico Hoerner CHC 2B 374.25 Hoerner is a solid player who will hit for average with speed, health continues to be the issue.

Michael Simione’s First Base Rankings

by
February 14, 2022
Michael Simione’s First Base Rankings
Rank Player Team Position(s) ADP Notes
1 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. TOR 1B 6.61 Produced the season we all knew he could. Can’t help but be curious as to what his numbers will look like outside of Buffalo.
2 Freddie Freeman ATL 1B 22.66 Mr. Consistency will produce in every category except for steals. The high average and high power output make him the clear #2.
3 Paul Goldschmidt STL 1B 58.84 Goldschmidt provides value because of the stolen bases. There is virtually no speed at this position and Goldy gives you an advantage there.
4 Matt Olson OAK 1B 51.2 Olson finally seems to be reaching his potential hitting for a high average with a ton of power. If the Athletics trade him and he moves on to a competitive team he could easily put up over 100 RBIs once again.
5 Pete Alonso NYM 1B 66.45 Last season Alonso improved his O-Contact%, Z-Contact%, SwStr%, and K%. Alonso hit .262 and it could rise even higher next season.
6 Jose Abreu CWS 1B 89.41 Sits in a great lineup with a ton of RBI opportunity. If his average continues to dip he might not be worth his draft price.
7 DJ LeMahieu NYY 1B, 2B, 3B 117.23 After the season we found out that LeMahieu played the entire season injured. A bounceback is likely.
8 Ryan Mountcastle BAL 1B, OF 113.41 The fence being moved out will hurt his power production but he still gives you a decent average as well as a little bit of speed.
9 Joey Votto CIN 1B 150.86 Votto had a massive second half hitting 25 home runs with a 1.057 OPS and 165 wRC+.
10 C.J. Cron COL 1B 130.23 Provides you with a solid average and plenty of power. Playing in Coors will continue to help Cron making him a lock for power.
11 Josh Bell WAS 1B 132.14 Josh Bell, like Votto, had a big second half. He had a 136 wRC+, .229 ISO, and .379 wOBA.
12 Rhys Hoskins PHI 1B 145.73 Hoskins season was cut short due to an injury but he continues to show his power upside finishing the season with a 17.0 Barrel%.
13 Ty France SEA 1B, 2B 148.25 France took some impressive strides last season. His MaxEV and EV/FB both increased by several points. He also had a 147 wRC+ in the second half while also cutting his strikeout rate by three points.
14 Jake Cronenworth SD 1B, 2B, SS 125.41 His multi-eligibility makes him an attractive option for your UT, CI, or MI position. While he doesn’t provide a ton of counting stats in one specific category he does help contribute in all five of them.
15 Jared Walsh LAA 1B 125.14 Walsh is another cheap power option for first base, there are so many late-round options it’s no wonder everyone is suggesting you wait on the position in drafts.
16 Anthony Rizzo NYY 1B 180.91 Rizzo is the boring old guy who provides you with a solid base floor.
17 Tyler Stephenson CIN C, 1B 156.02 Stephenson shouldn’t be drafted at this position but the first base option does help in draft and hold leagues.
18 Brandon Belt SF 1B 220.82 Belt has a ton of power and now that they changed the park it is finally starting to come through. Health is the issue with Belt but having him as your CI or UT makes the risk worth the reward.
19 Trey Mancini BAL 1B 193.32 The fall off on the power towards the second half of the season seemed like fatigue to me. I think we see some more power but moving back the fence isn’t going to help.
20 Jonathan Schoop DET 1B, 2B 205.86 Schoop provides plenty of value since he is an accumulater who will see plenty of plate apperances on a Detroit Tigers team.
21 Max Muncy LAD 1B, 2B 173.05 Still a big injury mystery and without an update, we have to leave him here.
22 Yuli Gurriel HOU 1B 205.8 Another boring old guy that helped out a ton of teams last season. If you need average he is your guy.
23 Frank Schwindel CHC 1B 229.93 Schwindel impressed big time last season but with it being a small sample it’s hard to tell who he really is. Should get a ton of playing time though.
24 Miguel Sano MIN 1B 263.66 There is a ton of power here, it’s just a matter of Sano improving his contact skills. I think he can hit .230 next season which makes him a viable option for fantasy teams.
25 Jesus Aguilar MIA 1B 279.84 Aguilar has some serious power and he attributed 93 RBI’s in 510 PAs. He is kind of being overlooked this season.
26 Rowdy Tellez MLW 1B 299.18 Tellez should see a lot more playing time this year and he could easily end up with over 20 home runs and a .250 average.
27 LaMonte Wade Jr. SF 1B, OF 307.32 The Giants love to platoon making Wade a tough buy. He should give you 15 home runs and at least five steals, the upside makes him appealing.
28 Alex Kirilloff MIN 1B, OF 186.05 Projections like Kiriloff and if he can put up 18 home runs, four steals, and a 2.70 average like they are calling for, that makes him a really solid bench piece.
29 Bobby Dalbec BOS 1B 226.45 Dalbec’s poor plate discipline and high strikeout rate could continue to hold him back.
30 Nathaniel Lowe TEX 1B 229.82 Yes, he stole a ton of bases but it all came in a short stretch and is an extreme outlier compared to the rest of his career and minor league track record.
31 Luke Voit NYY 1B 269.91 The injuries continue to pile up making him a very risky pick.
32 Spencer Torkelson DET 1B 259.3 The biggest named prospect coming into this season (who has yet to see MLB pitching). He will likely be called up early but we don’t know what kind of early struggles he can see.
33 Yoshi Tsutsugo PIT 1B, OF 308.59 Yoshi should see a lot of PA’s in Pittsburgh and maybe we start to see some of his power in 2022.
34 Eric Hosmer SD 1B 325.27 Hosmer’s low launch angle continues to hinder him and unless you are in a draft and hold he really isn’t rosterable.
35 Yandy Diaz TB 1B, 3B 346.73 Diaz will continue to do what he does, hit the ball hard without giving you home runs.
36 Keston Hiura MLW 1B 407.89 Hiura has had fantasy baseball managers moaning in agony for years now. He apparently is working on limiting his leg kick, so there is that at least.
37 Carlos Santana KC 1B 421.14 Carlos Santana had a miserable 2021 campaign. He does get a ton of PA’s and walks though making him a cheap option that could potentially help you.
38 Miguel Cabrera DET 1B 456.07 Miggy will continue to see at-bats and should provide a little power with a decent average.
39 Pavin Smith ARZ 1B, OF 357.14 A boring player who won’t give you anything but plate apperances.
40 Wilmer Flores SF 1B, 2B, 3B 369.45 The Giants like to platoon him but he should still see a bunch of plate apperances.
41 Darin Ruf 러프 SF 1B, OF 423.39 Ruf is one of the best platoon bats in the bigs. A terrific matchup play in daily leagues.
42 Christian Walker ARZ 1B 388.36 Walker was once a hot commodity for fantasy baseball but he has proven that the bouncy ball in 2019 padded his stats.
43 Bobby Bradley CLE 1B 412.75 Think Joey Gallo but a lot less power.
44 Jurickson Profar SD 1B, OF 455.91 As of right now, Profar will be a starter for the Padres but they will likely add a bat or two after the lockout.
45 Juan Yepez STL 1B 465.48 Yepez could certainly get the call this season it’s just a matter of when. He provides good power and could help you late in the season.

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